Until Then, We’ll Have to Muddle Through Somehow

I love Christmas. Everything about it. Glitter! Lights! Music! Celebrations! Novelty knitwear! Bank holiday cinematic stalwarts! Rampant consumerism! All of it.

This year is different. I want to be excited about Christmas, but I’m apprehensive. It’s always hard to be upbeat after bereavement, or indeed any difficult phase of life. Christmas is simultaneously the happiest and saddest time of the year.

I was today years old when I found out there are two distinct versions of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I previously thought lyric variations were just C r E a T i V i T y. As it turns out, there’s a sad version (the original) and the later, in-the-present-happiness version.

The original – sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St Louis – is sombre, yet hopeful. It recognises that this year isn’t easy, but looks to the future with a belief that life will be better, and good times will reign again. There’s a beautiful, pared-down rendition by Jon Batiste and Danielle Brooks on Spotify that fits perfectly with the sentiment of the lyrics.



These are the original lyrics:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be
Out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yule-tide gay
Next year all our troubles will be
Miles away

Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more 

Someday soon, we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, well have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

This is exactly how I look at Christmas this year. We’ll still have presents under the tree and animated chatter around the table. But there are two people missing, and the whole thing might not be as effortless as in previous years. Still, we’ll persevere, do our best, and look forward to the lightness and joy of future Christmases.